After months of speculation, one of the NHL’s top defensemen is headed to the Western Conference.

The San Jose Sharks pulled off a blockbuster trade with training camps set to begin, acquiring two-time Norris trophy winner Erik Karlsson in a six-player deal that includes up to three draft picks.

The Sharks sent forward Chris Tierney, defenseman Dylan DeMelo and prospects Josh Norris and Rudolfs Balcers to the Senators, in addition to a conditional 2020 first-round draft pick and conditional 2019 second-round pick, according to the Sharks.

The Senators are in the midst of a rebuild and Karlsson has one year remaining on a seven-year, $45 million contract. If the Sharks re-sign Karlsson, Ottawa will receive a conditional 2021 second-round pick. San Jose will also receive prospect forward Francis Perron.

With several unrestricted and restricted free agents next offseason, the Sharks will have plenty of cap space to sign the five-time All-Star to a long-term deal.

Karlsson, 28, has been the game's premier offensive defenseman since he entered the league in 2009-10, with explosive speed, exceptional puck-moving ability and a strong shot. According to hockey-reference.com, Karlsson has a 53% career Corsi, a metric that measures puck possession, meaning the puck is in the offensive zone more with Karlsson on the ice.

Karlsson's 518 points (in 627 games) are tops among defenseman since his career began.

Karlsson has twice scored at least 20 goals in a season and five times averaged more than three shots per game in his career. He led the league in assists with 66 in 2015-16. Karlsson had a bit of a down season (62 points in 71 games) in 2017-18 as he came back from a foot injury.

This trade vaults the Sharks, who lost in the second round of the playoffs this past season, among the upper echelon in the NHL and gives them one of the best 1-2 punches, along with Brent Burns, on defense.

Brooks Orpik, who was traded by the Capitals to Avalanche after the Stanley Cup win and then bought out, will return to Washington on a one-year, $1 million deal. He could earn another $500,000 in performance bonuses. Bill Sikes, AP

Vinnie Hinostroza was traded to the Arizona Coyotes by the Chicago Blackhawks along with Marian Hossa's contract, defenseman Jordan Oesterle and a third-round pick in 2019. Brace Hemmelgarn, USA TODAY Sports

Marcus Kruger was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks from the Arizona Coyotes along with MacKenzie Entwistle, Jordan Maletta, Andrew Campbell and a fifth-round pick in 2019. James Guillory, USA TODAY Sports